Cutaneous Stem Cells: Something New and Something Borrowed

The paper discussed the role of epidermal stem cells in maintaining skin homeostasis through constant proliferation and differentiation. It highlighted the complexity of epithelial functions across different organs and the challenges in identifying common regulatory properties for epidermal stem cells. Recent studies confirmed that adult stem cells reside in specific niches, where signals from the niche regulate their self-renewal, survival, and maintenance. The surrounding microenvironment and cell–cell adhesion also play crucial roles. The paper compared various types of epidermal stem cells, examined the influence of signaling pathways and autonomously acting proteins on their behavior, and introduced new insights and borrowed concepts in the field.